Time for Flats: A Baby Planner’s Response to Pregnant in Heels

I debated writing about this show. I honestly didn’t want to give it any more attention than it has already received. I am not here to bash Rosie, or her accent, or her ridiculous assistants.

I am here to question and correct behavior and information presented on Pregnant in Heels.

I have serious issue with someone who is being presented as a “Maternity Concierge” presenting incorrect information to parents via a nationally-broadcast television “reality” show. I can go on and on about:

-what I do and how long I’ve been doing it

-the seminars I’ve taught and spoken at all over NYC (Mom Prep included)

-the classes I’ve taken in childbirth, newborn care, and breastfeeding

-the training I continue to seek out to further educate myself

-the AMAZING connections I’ve made within the industry with the nation’s top experts

But I won’t.

My job as a baby planner is to help parents go from CAPABLE to CONFIDENT. I would never refer to any of my clients as “bitchy” or “crazy.” I value the relationships I build with my clients, and many of them turn into actual friendships that I’ve maintained over the past couple years. I get pictures, invites to birthday parties, play dates and I am OBSESSED with what I do. Anyone who’s ever met me would tell you the same.

So here we go:

Episode 1.

The “Mommy IQ” test is presented via two questions. One of these is “How long until the newborn’s umbilical cord falls off?” Rosie’s answer is 1-3 weeks. Ok, fine. What I do have issue with is her qualifying statement: which is why you cannot give babies a bath. WRONG. You can give babies a bath, they give babies baths in the hospital. You just cannot get the naval area wet, so you use a sponge or a rag. True, newborns don’t need to be over-bathed or their skin can dry out, but bathing occasionally is easy to do. Here is a pic of one of my twin nieces being bathed in the NICU and living the dream with her Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash. Who doesn’t love a baby that smells DELICIOUS??

Episode 2:

This is actually the episode that pushed me over the edge. The wine didn’t help things. Check out my Twitter feed….

There are two huge and DANGEROUS errors in this episode and they both involved the same infant. The rest is just a sad joke. Don’t even get me started on makeup and hair in the delivery room.

1. Said infant was in a Snuggle Nest, which is a sleep positioner made for bed-sharing. In this instance the Snuggle Nest was in a crib. I know these episodes were shot last year, but sleep positioners have long been frowned upon, and were recently warned against by the CPSC. The statement from the CPSC and FDA reads like this: NEVER put pillows, infant sleep positioners, comforters or quilts under a baby or in a crib. With a bit of editing this shot could have been removed, or some kind of disclaimer could have been added.

2. This same infant was swaddled and the blankets were up over the mouth. This is very dangerous, as it can affect breathing and lead to build-up of CO2, which is thought to be a SIDS risk. Proper swaddling techniques can be found here. Blankets go over and around the shoulders, not the chin.

The other action I had issue with was the “rushing to the hospital because I am having contractions” scene. Again, I know this is all over-the-top to make for entertaining television, but you can also present accurate information. Fact: when women go to the hospital too early, Pitocin is often used to speed labor along because it’s taking “too much time.” Pitocin causes very painful contractions and many women choose an epidural because of this. The epidural slows things down, so more pitocin is needed. This cycle repeats. This combination messes the whole process up, the medications lead to the infant having an elevated heart rate, and then a C-section is needed. I am not judging ANYONE’S use of medications or their birth process or plan. That is your prerogative. However, were situations like this handled differently and women were better educated about the effects of the drugs, major abdominal surgery could be avoided.

There you go. I am not here to shout statistics out or get preachy, I just had to throw in my 18 cents.

I’d love to know your thoughts on the show as well. Feel free to comment here, contact me on my Twitter or Facebook account, or even shoot me an email!!!